Lindsey Graham warns China: ‘I’ll do business with you on Monday and put tariffs on Tuesday’

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. Lindsey Graham issued a blunt warning to China on Wednesday night, saying Beijing could face tariffs if it continues backing countries hostile to US interests. His comments came as President Donald Trump was in Beijing meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The high-profile summit featured Trump and Xi trading warm remarks on live television, with Trump telling the Chinese leader, “It’s an honor to be your friend.” Earlier in the day, children waving American and Chinese flags greeted the President during his arrival ceremony.

Trump’s delegation included several major US business figures, among them Elon Musk and Tim Cook. Also traveling with the president was his son, Eric Trump.

Lindsey Graham’s China warning

Appearing on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, who was covering the summit from Beijing, Graham said he had introduced legislation “that would allow President Trump to put tariffs on China for buying Russian oil and gas. And I’ll do the same thing down the road.”

The South Carolina Republican then escalated his rhetoric.

“But here’s the problem. You name the allies of China, they’re all dirtbags,” Graham said. “They’re aligned with the worst people in the world. They’re buying oil cheaply from Iran, keeping their war machine going. Same thing with Russia. If China stops buying Iranian oil or threatens to do it, the war with Iran would be over.”

Graham argued that Beijing could play a decisive role in multiple global conflicts if it chose to pressure Tehran and Moscow economically.

“All I’m asking China to do is help us open up the Strait of Hormuz, help us stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, because I think they would use it. Help us and the bloodbath in Russia and Ukraine that is hurting the world economy,” he said.

“If you help us, I will be very grateful. If you don’t help us and you continue to prop up these regimes, I will do business with you on Monday and put tariffs on you on Tuesday,” Graham added.

A familiar playbook

It’s hardly the first time Graham has floated economic punishment against foreign governments.

Back in March, the senator warned Saudi Arabia that “consequences will follow” if the kingdom did not become more involved in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. In January, Graham also targeted Cuba’s leadership. “Their days are numbered," he declared.

Other Republicans in Trump’s orbit are now making a similar case for Beijing to lean harder on Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Hannity that the administration would urge China to use its influence to cool tensions in the Persian Gulf.

Rubio said administration officials planned to stress that “economies are melting down because of this crisis,” adding that consumers are “buying less Chinese product.”

“So it’s in their interest to resolve this,” Rubio said of Chinese officials. “We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they’re doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf.”

Trump shrugs off economic concerns

Rubio’s comments appeared to contrast with Trump’s own remarks, as the president has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions that economic pressure at home could soften the administration’s demands on Iran.

Speaking before departing the White House, Trump was asked whether the financial stability of ordinary Americans factors into the ongoing negotiations with Tehran amid a fragile ceasefire.

“Not even a little bit,” Trump replied.

“I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” the president said, before adding that “every American understands” the position.

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